Sound translating apparatus



April 24, 1962 F, FLEMING 3,031,530

SOUND TRANSLATING APPARATUS Filed June 19, 1959 START STOP SWITCH B2 1 '7 AMPLIFIER 50 I 1 \ll BACK SPACE SWITCH I POWER 54 58 SUPPLY l 1 l 1 5e INVENTOR RONALD F. FLEMING ATTORNEY United States atent Gfiiee 3,031,530 Patented Apr. 24, 1962 3,031,530 SOUND TRANSLATING APPARATUS Ronald F. Fleming, Farmington, Conn., assignor to The Gray Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Connecticut Filed June 19, 1959, Ser. No. 821,469 8 Claims. (Cl. 179100.1)

This invention relates to sound translating apparatus and particularly the circuitry of such apparatus.

The power requirements of sound translating apparatus of conventional types frequently vary widely during the performance of the several functions desired in conjunction with such apparatus. For example, when the amplifier of such an apparatus is energized during a backspacing operation or a start-stop operation, the power requirements are greatly increased. By virtue of the present concept, such extreme load variations are avoided in such a way that there is never a demand for current by more than one of the backspace, start-stop, or amplifier circuits at any one time.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide in combination with sound translating apparatus having a frame, a sound translating member, a record engaging member, a carriage supporting one of the members for movement relative to the other, driving means for relatively moving the members in a forward direction, backspace means for relatively moving the members in a reverse direction, start-stop means for the driving means, an amplifier in circuit with the sound translating member, and a source of power for the backspace means, the start-stop means and the amplifier; circuits including the source of power, amplifier, backspace means, startstop means and switching means, the switching means selectively energizing any of the backspace means, startstop means or amplifier, exclusively of the others. The driving means is inactivated during energization of the start-stop means. The switching means preferably comprises firstand second single pole double throw switches, the first switch having a normally open contact connected to the backspace means, a movable contact connected to the source and a normally closed contact connected to a movable contact of the second switch, the second switch having a normally open contact connected to the amplifier and a normally closed contact connected to the startstop means. Each of the start-stop means and backspace means preferably includes an electro-magnetic actuator.

The switching means normally connects the source of power to the start-stop means, actuation of the switching means to energize the backspace means first deenergizes the start-stop means, and actuation of the switching means to energize the amplifier first deenergizes the start-stop means.

A more complete understanding of the invention will follow a description with respect to the accompanying drawing which assumes the form of a schematic and fragmentary diagram. 9

The sound translating apparatus has a frame 10 supporting a carriage 12 movable in a slot 14 with respect to a screw 16 engaging a half-nut 18 in driving relationship with a spindle 20 terminating in a fluted upper end 22 for registry with the serrated central opening of a record disc 24. Rotation of the record disc is effected through a driving shaft 26 whose driving roller 28' is disposed below the record disc for engagement with its lower surface. A pressure roller 30 carried by a shaft 32 mounted on a lever 34 is biased towards the record disc by means of a spring 36 tending to move the lever 34 clockwise about its pivot 38, as viewed in the drawing. In the drawing, the pressure roller 30 is shown in its retracted position relative to the driving roller 28 under the influence of the electromagnet 40 whose circuit is energized. When the pressure roller 30 is lowered into engagement with the record disc, the record and its spindle 20 will be rotated to impart rotation to the half-nut 18 through suitable gearing, not shown, causing forward movement of the carriage 12 with respect to the frame 10 and with respect to a transducing head 42 having a stylus 44 engageable with the record disc.

A ratchet wheel 46 is secured to the screw 16 for imparting reverse movement of the carriage relative to the frame under the influence of a pawl 48 normally held in retracted position relative to the ratchet wheel by means of a spring 50 biasing the pawl clockwise, as depicted in the drawing about its pivot 52. counterclockwise movement is imparted to the pawl 48 about its pivot 52 by means of a backspace electromagnet 54 whose winding is normally deenergized.

A suitable power supply 56 has an output lead 58 connected to the terminal of a movable contact 6% of a backspace switch 62. A normally open contact 64 of the backspace switch is connected by means of a lead 66 to the winding of the electromagnet 54 whose other terminal is grounded. A normally closed contact 68 of the backspace switch is connected by means of a lead 70 to the terminal of a movable contact 72 of a start-stop switch 74. A normally closed contact 76 of the start-stop switch is connected to the winding of the electromagnet 40 whose other terminal is grounded. The normally open contact 78 of the start-stop switch is connected by means of a lead 80 to supply power to an amplifier 82. During a recording operation, the output of the amplifier will be connected to the sound translating member or head 42 by means of a lead 84 and its input will be connected to a microphone 86 by means of a lead 88. During a reproducing operation, the lead 84- will interconnect the head 42, functioning as a reproducing head, to the input of the amplifier whose output will then be connected by means of the lead 88 to the transducer 86 now serving as a speaker.

The start-stop switch 74 and backspace switch 62 con stitute a switching assembly 90 which may be remotely positioned relative to the remaining portions of the ap-v paratus, and it will be noted that only four conductors are required to produce the interconnections necessary for the several functions contemplated herein. The four conductors include the lead 58 connecting the power supply 56 to the terminal of the movable contact 60 of the backspace switch, the lead 66 connecting the winding of the electromagnet 54 with the normally open contact 64 of the backspace switch, the lead 80 connecting the amplifier 82 with the normally open contact 78 of the start-stop switch 74 and the lead 92 connecting the winding of the electromagnet 40 with the normally closed contact 76 of the start-stop switch.

With the switches in the positions depicted in the drawing, the pressure roller 30 will be elevated in a non-driving relationship with respect to the record disc 24 because the winding of the electromagnet 40 is energized from the power supply 56 through the lead 58, movable contact 60, normally closed contact 68, lead 70, movable contact 72, normally closed contact 76, lead 92, to the winding and to ground. Assuming that it is desired to begin a recording or reproducing operation, the movable contact 72 of the start-stop switch will be shifted from its normally closed contact 7 6 to its normally open contact 78, deenergizing the winding of the electromagnet 40 whereby the spring 36 will effect engagement between the pressure roller 30 and the record 24 to produce rotation of the record disc 24 by means of the driving roller 28 carried by the driving shaft 26. Following deenergization of the electromagnet 40, the amplifier 82 will be energized through the normally open contact 78 and lead 80, at which time the amplifier will be the only load connected to the power supply 56. Re, gardless of the position of the movable contact 72, of the start-stop switch 74, when the movable contact 60 of the backspace switch 62 is shifted from its normally closed contact 68 to its normally open contact 64, the start-stop switch will be completely deenergized and subsequently, the only load connected with the power supply will be the winding of the backspace electromagnet 54-. It will be noted that when the electromagnet 54 is energized, the pawl 48 will be rocked counterclockwise about its pivot 52 to engage the ratchet wheel 46 and rotate the screw 16 to impart a backspacing movement to the carriage 12.. During this backspacing operation which may consist of one or more impulses to effect the desired degree of backspacing, the record disc 24 will be moving under the influence of the driving shaft 26 because the winding of electromagnet 40 is deenergized and the pressure roller 60 will engage the record disc 24 under these conditions. By thus imparting rotation to the record disc during the backspacing operation, registry of the stylus 44 with the groove or track will be greatly facilitated.

The backspace electromagnet, the start-stop electromagnet, and the amplifier are preferably designed to have substantially equal current requirements, and since only one of these will be energized at any given time, the power supply will be susceptible to very eificient operation at a substantially constant load.

The foregoing description will suggest a number of modifications to those skilled in the art and contemplated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with sound translating apparatus having a frame, a sound translating member, a record engaging member, a carriage supporting one of said members for movement relative to the other, driving means for relatively moving said members in a forward direction, backspace means for relatively moving said members in a reverse direction, start-stop means for said driving means, an amplifier in circuit with said sound translating member, and a source of power for said backspace means, said start-stop means and said amplifier; switching means including terminals connected in circuit with said source of power, amplifier, backspace means and start-stop means respectively; first contact means having a terminal, said first contact means being selectively engageable with said start-stop and amplifier terminals, and second contact means connected to said power supply terminal and being selectively engageable with said backspace and first contact means terminals, whereby said switching means selectively energizes any of said backspace means, start-stop means or amplifier, exclusively of the others to limit the drain on said source of power.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said driving means is inactivated during energization of said start-stop means.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said switching means comprises first and second single pole double throw switches, said first switch having a normally open contact connected to said backspace means, a movable contact connected to said source and a normally closed contact connected to a movable contact of said second switch, said second switch having a normally open contact connected to said amplifier and a normally closed contact connected to said start-stop means.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said start-stop means includes an electromagnetic actuator.

5. The invention as set forth in. claim 1 wherein said backspace means includes an electromagnetic actuator.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said switching means normally connects said source of power to said start-stop means.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 6 wherein actuation of said switching means to energize said backspace means first deenergizes said start-stop means.

8. The invention as set forth in claim 6 wherein actuation of said switching means to energize said amplifier first deenergizes said start-stop means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,348,204 Brubaker May 9, 1944 2,660,623 Somers Nov. 24, 1953 2,673,242 Deventer Mar. 23, 1954 2,882,346 Jones Apr. 14, 1959 

